So I had always went with the notion that if the string fretted on the 12th fret was flat compared to the open string pluck and the 12th fret harmonic... then it would be okay to adjust the intonation screw without loosening/slackening the string because I'd be moving the saddle forward towards the nut/headstock making for less tension on the string rather than more. This time the one thing off on my guitar's intonation was a D string that was too sharp on the 12th fret. I figured how much could it really matter as it's just a small adjustment. Well I did not loosen/slacken the string, I just tried to adjust the screw to move the saddle back towards the butt of the guitar. Nope! I mean the saddle wouldn't move. Was literally on my way towards running out of screw! What was happening? The string tension was causing me to unscrew the screw without the D string's saddle moving. I DID need to loosen/slacken that string before moving the saddle back with the screw. As soon as I did loosen that string I could then visibly see that I could move that string's saddle via the screw.
So I just learned something. The string's tension was able to prevent me from moving the saddle with screw adjustments / the string's tension was holding the saddle in place no matter what I did with the screw. So now I realize the error of my ways and why I could not expect that D string's saddle to be adjusted at least in that direction without slackening the string. Lesson learned and now I'm more so pleased with the intonation.
Intonation is a big deal for anyone with good ears. Can really hold someone back if they're hearing inaccurate octaves being played up and down the fretboard. And even though completely perfect intonation on a fretted stringed instrument is impossible, it is nice to get it set the absolute best it can be for the string gauge you use.
This guitar was close to spot on to begin with, but the D string had the slight issue and it needed to be deviated just a bit from the stair step saddle positions. You can see in the picture that it's not exactly what it will typically look like specifically concerning the D string... but this is how I found it has to be for the D string to be as intonated as it can be on this guitar.
So even though some intonations have been successfully done without string slackening, it apparently can happen that the string tension can just hold the saddle in it's place without the screw being able to change it's position. I now know. And this is what the best near perfect intonation compromise looks like on this particular guitar with these particular strings.
PS: After I intonate with open string, 12th fret harmonic, and 12th fret fretted, I like to check octaves all over the fretboard so I can make the absolute best compromise for guitar playability.
So I just learned something. The string's tension was able to prevent me from moving the saddle with screw adjustments / the string's tension was holding the saddle in place no matter what I did with the screw. So now I realize the error of my ways and why I could not expect that D string's saddle to be adjusted at least in that direction without slackening the string. Lesson learned and now I'm more so pleased with the intonation.
Intonation is a big deal for anyone with good ears. Can really hold someone back if they're hearing inaccurate octaves being played up and down the fretboard. And even though completely perfect intonation on a fretted stringed instrument is impossible, it is nice to get it set the absolute best it can be for the string gauge you use.
This guitar was close to spot on to begin with, but the D string had the slight issue and it needed to be deviated just a bit from the stair step saddle positions. You can see in the picture that it's not exactly what it will typically look like specifically concerning the D string... but this is how I found it has to be for the D string to be as intonated as it can be on this guitar.
So even though some intonations have been successfully done without string slackening, it apparently can happen that the string tension can just hold the saddle in it's place without the screw being able to change it's position. I now know. And this is what the best near perfect intonation compromise looks like on this particular guitar with these particular strings.
PS: After I intonate with open string, 12th fret harmonic, and 12th fret fretted, I like to check octaves all over the fretboard so I can make the absolute best compromise for guitar playability.
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